Mutiny on the TechCrunch? First Writer Resigns Post-Arrington Ouster

Paul Carr, a prominent tech writer and TechCrunch columnist, has resigned from his post in a note posted on the site, marking the first of what could be many departures.

Ever since Carr and a few other TechCrunch employees made their displeasure with Arrington’s imminent ouster clear, there were questions about what the staff would do when the site’s editorial future was settled.

Readers now have their first answer since the AOL Huffington Post Media Group named Erick Shonfeld the site’s interim editor last week.

What’s more, Carr did not just resign but laid bare many of the backroom machinations of the past few weeks.

To recap, Arrington was pushed out because of a media firestorm over conflict of interest. He is starting a venture fund that will invest in many of the tech companies his old newsroom reports on, and AOL has provided $10 million in seed money.

The prospect of Arrington's staying at TechCrunch offended many, and Arianna Huffington stepped in to quiet the storm.

Before Arrington departure was official, many TechCrunch writers, including Arrington, wrote posts demanding that the site’s editorial independence remain – as was promised when AOL bought it last year.